Short-circuit detector.



I F. 0. REINEKING. SHORT CIRCUIT DETECTOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB.7,-1910.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

- INVENTOB BY Wi ATTORNEY all tJnrrn s'ra'r rarer clarion rnnnnnrcn c.nnrnnmne, on JERSEY CITY, new annsnr, Assrenon To nas'rmn'n GQMIPANY, ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SHORT-CIRCUIT DETECTOR.

Wdb, i 66.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February "1, ram. serieina eraser.

To all whom it mag commas:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK C. Reinsnrns, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at 3% Leinbecli' avenue, in Jersey City, county ofHudsorn and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and usefulimprovement in Shortflircuit Detectors, of whichthe following is aspecification.

My invention relates to short circuit de tcctors, and the object of mydevice is to furnish a simple, inexpensive method for visuallydetectingshort circuits such as occur in spark plugs, wiring, magnetos,and other portions of the ignition apparatus of internal combustion enines and elsewhere, without the necessity o removing the snark plug orother portion of the said ignitionapparatus from its place in the enine.

I accomplish this object by he device shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a section in elevation of my device. Fig. 2 is a transversesection'through spark space N. Fig 3 is a transverse section through pinL A is a flanged cylinder of vulcanized rub-.

her or other insulating material.

B is a handle of hard rubber or other insulating material,

C is a short length of glass tubing.

l) is a retaining ring of brass or other metal to hold tube C in placeon cylinder A. E is a pin threaded into cylinder A and handle E. I

F is a pin threaded into cylinder A.

G is a flat knurled handle integral with pin F,

H is a fiat clip or boss threaded around pin-E;

l is a pin at the outer end of clip H.

J is an arm swingingabout pm I as a pivot.-

K is acup shaped recess at the lower end of arm J.

L is a hook shaped projection at the end of arm J. r

M is a sharp point at the outerfend of pin F. 7 p

N is a cylindrical open s ark space bored. across therniddle of cylin orA.

U is a sharp sparlr point on the end of pin l P is pin F.

a sharp sparli. point on the end oi?- By reference to the drawings, itwill be observed that the lower end of arm J may be swung in or outabout pin 1 as a pivot; and in this manner the distance between thelower end of arm. and the point M may be diminished or increased will,The advantage of this arrangement is that contact may be made at anypoint within the range of the swing of arm J and in many places, such astesting the terminals ofa magneto, or in testing spark plug, it isimpossible to get nninsulated contact-s except at certain specificpoints on theline to be tested and the distance between theseuninsulated points is rarely the same. It will be further observed byreference to the drawings, that the spark gap between terminals, U and Pmay be diminished or increased at will, The advantage of thisarrangement is that spark gaps of varying sizes in the lineto be testedmay be accurately measured,

The operation of my device is as follows: Before beginning the'test, thedistance be tween terminals 0 and P should beset so as to approximatelyequal the distancebetween the spark plug terminals in the particularengine which is to be examined. This ad strong sparltshows in space N,then it will be evident tliatthere is no short circuit between the sparkplug terminals inside the engine cylinder; for the reason that it thespark plug were short-circuited, then the electric current would runthroueh such shortcircuit in the spark plug, and would not travelagainsttheihigher resistance due to the air space between tern'iinals Uand P.

lil on the other hand, a. reali: sparlr or no spark; at all shows inspace N it is evident that the terminals of the sparlr plug inside thecylinder are short circuited to a greater or less degree, and. that theelectric current is traveling through this short circuited path of lowresistance, in preference to leap BEST AVAILABLE COPY can be determinedwhether any short circuit exists between the wire and the cylinder;

, and in like manner, the condition of the entire ignition system may beexamined.

In case the distance between the spark plug terminals is unknown, saiddistance may be measured by means of my device. Start with terminals 0and 1? very close together. Then (unless the spark plu is entirely shortcircuited) a spark wi show between terminals 0 and P. Now keepincreasing the gap between terminals 0 and P until the spark ceases toleap between them. The distance between terminals 0 and P will thenequalor very closely approximate the distance between the spark plugterminals inside the cylinder. Similar measuring tests of the magnetoand other portions of the ignition system may be made.

I claim:

1. In short circuit detectors, in combination an insulating casing, aspark space in said insulating easing, two insulated terminals in saidspark space; means for formin an electrical connection between'one ofsai terminals and one oint of the circuit to be tested; means for ormingan electrical connection between the other of said terminals and anotherpoint of the circuit to be tested, in such manner that the particularpoint of the circuit Which.is under examination shall be .between thetwo electrical connections aforesaid; means for making the distance-'the circuit which is under examination shall be between the twoelectrical connections aforesaid; means for making the spark spacebetween said terminals greater or smaller at-will.

3. In short circuit detectors, in combina tion an insulatmg casmg, aspark space in said insulating casing, two insulated terminals in saldspark space; means for forming an electrical connection between one ofvsaid terminals and one point of the circuit to be tested; means forforming an electrical connection between the other of said terr' minalsand another point of the circuit to be tested, in such manner that theparticular point of the circuit which is under examinascarce tion shallbe between the two electrical connections aforesaid; means for makingthe spark space between said terminals greater or smaller at will meansfor making the distance between the outer ends of the two terminalconnections, greater or smaller at will.

4. In a short circuit detector, an insulated casing having an openingextending through one of its sides and two orifices extending fromthe'opening to the outer wall of the casing, two electrodes disposed inthe orifices respectively, a transparent member disposed around thecasing and across the opening therein, means for connecting theelectrodes with the circuit which is to be tested by points at adistance from each other, means for varying the distancebetween theouter terminals of the connecting means.

5. In a short circuit detector, an insulated casing having an openinextendin through one of its sides, two ori ces exten ing from theopening through the outer wall of the casing, two electrodes disposed inthe orifices respectively, means for increasing 'or diminishing the gapbetween said electrodes at will, a transparent member disposed aroundthe casing and across the opening therein, means for connecting theelectrodes with the circuit which is to be tested by points at adistance from each other.

6. In a short circuit detector, an insulated casing having an openinextendin through one of its sides, two ori ces exten ing from theopening through the outer wall of the casing, two electrodes disposed inthe orifices respectively, means for increasing or diminishing the gapbetween said electrodes at will, a transparent member disposed aroundthe casing and across the opening therein, means for connectingthe-electrodes with the circuit which is to be tested by points at adistance from each other, means for varyin the distance between theouter terminals 0 the connecting means.

7 In a shortcircuit detector, an insulated casing having an openingextending through one ofits sides and two orifices extending from theopening through the outer wall of the casing, two electrodes disposed inthe orifices respectively, a transparent member disposed around thecasing and across the opening therein, a member havin electricalconnection with one of the electr es, and an arm hinged to the member.

'8. In a short circuit detector, an insulated casing having an openingwhich extends electrodes an electrically-conductive member securetlbetween the handle and the casing,-

and an arm hinged to the member..

9. In a short circuit detector, an insulated easing having an openingwhich extends through one of its sides and two orifices which extend'from the opening through the outer surface of the eas1ng5 twoelectrodes having inner and outer terminals respeetively,.disposed inthe orifices respectively, the inner terminals of the electrodes beingdisposed in the opening and the outer terminals extending beyondf thecasing, a handle secured to the outer terminal of oneof the electrodes,an electrically-conductive member 15 secured between the handle and thecasing, an arm hinged to the said member a glass cylinder (disposedaround the casing and .across the opening therein {FREDERICK C.REINEKING. Witnesses:- I

ARTHUR; GJ-JoHNeON, Anonem W'rnnnn

